A&A 400, 369-373 (2003)
DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361:20021890

Photometric and spectroscopic observations of (2060) Chiron at the ESO Very Large Telescope

J. Romon-Martin¹, C. Delahodde², M. A. Barucci¹, C. de Bergh¹ and N. Peixinho<sup>1, 3

1</sup>  Observatoire de Paris, Meudon, France
²  Institut d'Astrophysique de Marseille, France
³  Centro de Astronomia e Astrofisica da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal

(Received 7 June 2002 / Accepted 9 December 2002 )

Abstract
Photometric and spectroscopic observations of Centaur Chiron have been obtained at the ESO/Very Large Telescope (VLT), both in optical and near-infrared spectral ranges, on 12-14 June 2001. Photometric optical data reveal that Chiron had reached a high activity level at that time. No absorption feature could be seen on the spectra; especially, no water ice could be detected.

Key words: comets: individual: Chiron -- minor planets, asteroids -- techniques: spectroscopic, photometric

Offprint request: J. Romon-Martin, jennifer.romon@obspm.fr

© ESO 2003